Present tense

As is common in Gaelic, there is no present tense form of the verb. When a simple present meaning ("I say something") or a progressive meaning (I am saying something) is intended, the periphrastic construction is used with the present tense of the verb bi (be), i.e., tha, along with the verbal noun.

Tha

mi

a'

ruigsinn

be.pres

1s

prog

reach.vn

I'm reaching/I reach

Future tense

The future tense in Gaelic is used to express the idea that an event will happen sometime after the speech time. Unlike English, the future tense can also be used with a present tense meaning, to express the idea that an action is habitual.

Declarative

Question

Negative

Negative Question

Relative Future1

1

ruigidh mi

an ruig mi

cha ruig

nach ruig mi

a ruigeas mi

2

ruigidh2 tu

an ruig thu

cha ruig thu

nach ruig thu

a ruigeas2 tu

3 masc

ruigidh e

an ruig e

cha ruig e

nach ruig e

a ruigeas e

3 fem

ruigidh i

an ruig i

cha ruig i

nach ruig i

a ruigeas i

1 pl

ruigidh sinn

an ruig sinn

cha ruig sinn

nach ruig sinn

a ruigeas sinn

2 pl

ruigidh sibh

an ruig sibh

cha ruig sibh

nach ruig sibh

a ruigeas sibh

3 pl

ruigidh iad

an ruig iad

cha ruig iad

nach ruig iad

a ruigeas iad

Note:

the relative future is used after certain particles such as ma or the particle used with questions a.

after ruigidh and ruigeas, the 2nd person is tu rather than thu.

Impersonal/Passive Voice

Gaelic verbs don't technically have a Passive verb form. It does, however, have an impersonal form. The Impersonal is used to indicate an indeterminate subject. '

Past tense

Note: these forms are archaic and almost never used anymore

Declarative

Question

Negative

Negative Question

ràinigeadh

an do ràinigeadh

cha do ràinigeadh

nach do ràinigeadh

Present tense

The use of a passive in the present tense is odd, even in English. We leave this blank here.

Future tense

The future tense impersonal form is ruigear, both as a simple form and with particles (an ruigear, cha ruigear, nach ruigear, a ruigear, etc.)

Conditional Mood

Active

Declarative

Question

Negative

Negative Question

1

ruiginn1

an ruiginn1

cha ruiginn1

nach ruiginn1

2

ruigeadh tu2

an ruigeadh2 tu

cha ruigeadh2 tu

nach ruigeadh2 tu

3 masc

ruigeadh e

an ruigeadh e

cha ruigeadh e

nach ruigeadh e

3 fem

ruigeadh i

an ruigeadh i

cha ruigeadh i

nach ruigeadh i

1 pl

ruigeadh sinn (ruigeamaid3)

an ruigeadh sinn (an ruigeamaid3)

cha ruigeadh sinn (cha ruigeamaid3)

nach ruigeamaid sinn (nach ruigeamaid3)

2 pl

ruigeadh sibh

an ruigeadh sibh

cha ruigeadh sibh

nach ruigeadh sibh

3 pl

ruigeadh iad

an ruigeadh iad

cha ruigeadh iad

nach ruigeadh iad

Notes:

The 1st person singular form is never used with an overt pronoun, the verb contains the pronoun already.

The pronoun tu is used here instead of thu

The 1st person plural has a special inflected form, which like the first person singular is never used with a pronoun. This 1st person plural form is rarely used anymore.